One thing I didn't mention on the main post but meant to was the impact of GMS. He didn't have his best game for us on Saturday but as we predicted on Friday, the Hearts players were out to get him. Not only was Stevenson sent off for a tackle on him but three of their back four were booked for tackles on him.

It's just typical of the type of treatment he gets week in week out and at least Collum gave him a bit of protection this week. The hatchet men of the SPL can't be allowed to deprive us of talented players and hopefully refs continue to protect the skillful players in our league.

Ivan - good post, man . Agree that Saturday will be a tricky match for us. Post Euro reaction, return of Jackie Mac, resurgent Arabs etc...

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Steve

Our only real hope of beating you is due to you having a Euro hangover. If you are distracted by the Juve games - which is a very real possibility - then we have a chance, but the reality is that if you're on top of your game we have very little chance.

Wim - you're probably right and I think Collum should probably be pulled up by the SFA for that.

Reminds me of the classic line from Bobby Lennox in November 76 after his leg break at Ibrox. "Bobby - when did you realise your leg was broken?" "When I saw that Greigy was about to tackle me!"

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Completely disagree with ur comment IGM. Stevensons tackle was late and his studs were showing therefore constitutes serious foul play to which the punishment is a red card. You can argue that it soft all day but the facts still remain.
I wonder if you would have a different attitude if GMS had been stretchered off with a serious injury?
I have no doubts that the Hibs challenge earlier in the season made Collums mind up for him but in my opinion it was the correct decision.

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I think the problem is that he went to ground while going directly at the opponent. If he'd come in from the side then it was fair but I guess you can't go in straight on.

The reason I think it is harsh is twofold - firstly I didn't feel his studs were raised (certainly in a dangerous way) and secondly he was fully in control of his tackle. It wasn't a desperate lunge it was a controlled tackle - albeit a hard one.

Apparently Collum told him that it was more of a technicality that he was being sent off for and I can I suppose understand that but I didn't feel his tackle was particularly dangerous.

Wim - if he continues the form of the last few weeks then I'm optimistic we'll get a couple of million for him.

I think the club would have accepted a 7 figure sum in January.

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It's nice to see the team actually playing fluid football - Rankin popping up on the left wing to deliver the cross in both the 1st and 3rd goals, Flood playing a one-two to set up his goal & Mackay-Steven playing on whichever wing he feels like. All very positive stuff. Even McLean looked decent when he came on - terrible with the ball at his feet but commanding in the air.

It's amazing how much of a difference there has been since the change of manager, particularly defensively but as you say Hobo across the team.

Makes you wonder why they weren't playing like this beforehand, but I guess the rigidness of the formation stopped the players expressing themselves.

We're much improved.

Arabs A good post Ivan.

I think if you look back at the thread I predicted a 3-1 victory

I thought we played well and I like the 4-2-3-1 system that we are playing. The possession football was good and I like enjoy that style of play. However, folk are going to have to get used to it. A few numpties around me wer giving it "get the ball in the box". It waws getting on my nerves as we Hearts were no threat while we had the ball.

Anyway, I fancy a 2-1 win at Celtic Park. The predictor has spoken.

Oh yeah, I also missed the red card as I was getting a hot dog

Yeah my mate started grumping at one point in the second half about the lack of urgency to get more goals. I didn't understand it and told him so. At this stage of the season the three points is crucial and I'd rather see us protect our lead and build on it if we can rather than throw men into the box and get caught on the counter. I thought we controlled the game well and played the game perfectly.

Yep, if you're a goal up and keep possession, you'll win. Don't want to see us give away the ball needlessly, although perhaps pass it a bit quicker than Rankin was on Saturday!

I thought it was noticable that we were trying to switch the play across the park a lot more often on Saturday than we normally do. Normally we get bogged down in little pockets of the park and try to play through tight situations.

I'd imagine this was a deliberate ploy rather than just something that happened during the game as it was happening even before the man was sent off.

What is very clear from the OP is that Ivan has a training need, namely bladder control! Too many of these ?! Have you ever thought of going before and after the game and at half time!

We are looking much better at the moment. Interesting this is being achieved with the same starting line up so Houston and McNamara appear to share same view of best starting 11 but a big difference in tactics with greater freedom given to our players. Much easier on the eye and reading between the lines of recent comments from the players (e.g. Russell on how new coaching staff are giving him more confidence) much better for collective esprit de corps.

I think the concern with the possession stuff was that we didn't end up getting caught with the wrong back pass which nearly happened once and IIRC did lead to Hearts goal.

I had three pints before the game and I've always been known for my weak bladder